Castle Garden, today known as Castle Clinton National Monument, is the major landmark within The Battery, the 23 acre waterfront park at the tip of Manhattan. From 1855 to 1890, the Castle was America's first official immigration center, a pioneering collaboration of New York State and New York City.

http://genealogy.about.com/od/ports/p/castle_garden.htm  History of Castle Garden   In 1855, Castle Garden became America's first immigrant receiving center, welcoming more than 8 million immigrants before it was closed on April 18, 1890. Castle Garden was succeeded by Ellis Island in 1892.

http://www.genealogytoday.com/columns/ruby/011117.html  With all the interest in the Ellis Island web page, researchers believe answers to immigrant ancestry will come alive on that page. It is a very useful site, but users need to know the history of Ellis Island and other ports of entry. Not everybody was processed through Ellis Island.

From 1 August 1855 to 18 April 1890, Castle Garden was New York City's landing center . . .

Receiving stations, such as Castle Garden, prevented people with contagious diseases from entering the United States. The stations also served to help immigrants who were victims of deceit and robbery. Before Castle Garden (1855) ship passengers were allowed to disembark directly from the ship onto wharfs.

After the termination of the contract in 1890, immigrants were processed at the Old Barge Office. This was located at the southeast end of Manhattan near the U.S. Customs Office. Ellis Island, the first federal immigrant receiving station, was opened on 1 January 1892. At least 10,000 immigrants a day could be processed through the station.

Ellis Island was the federal government's first attempt at establishing a receiving station. . . .